Parachute.



J. BURNS. PARAGHUTE. APPLIUATION FILED DEC]. 27, 1910.

Patented June 27, 1911.

Jenn Beans, or L08 AneELEs, CALIFORNIA.

rAnAcnurE. 7

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented me 2"? 1911 Application fi1edDecember27, 1910. Serial No. 5993 50. I

\ ful in making descents from aeroplanes, dirigible. balloons, orbuildings and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a parachute for this purposewith improved 1 means for opening the same and' for support in a loadtherebelow and it is a .further object of the invention to provideremovable means for holding the ribs and other portions of the parachutewhereby the parts may be adjusted for the use of a greater or lessnumber of parts asfound desirable.

, In the drawing forming a part of the annexed specification, Figure 1is alvertical sectional view through the improved parachute constructedin accordance with the present invention, some of the parts being shownin elevation. Fig. 2"is an enlarged detail view of the upper'end of theparachute spindle showing the removable means for'holdin the ribs oftheparachute. Fig.

3 is an en arged detail sectional view partially in elevationillustrating the mechanism for raising or supporting the parachute,'aportion of the parachute spindle being broken away. Fig. 4 is.an-enla'rged detail view showing one of the adjustable connections upona rib for connecting the same to a spreader.

Referring more particularly to the illustration in which is shown thepreferred form of the mechanism, 1 indicates a tubular spindle, 2 a drawTod telescoping therein, 3 ribs and 4 spreaders connected therewith. 1The tubular spindle is provided at itsupper end with a removable andadjustable sleeve 5 which is adapted to carry the ribs 3 of theparachute. The said sleeve '5 is provided with a body portion of amplelength to be firmly secured upon the end of the tubular spindle 1 and itis clamped thereon, usually --by means of a screw as 6,-which has athreaded bearing in the walls of the said sleeve 5. The upper end of the'sleeve is formed with .a series of rib receiving jaws? between whichthe ends of the ribs 3 are pivoted.

The pivots for these ribs arepreferably removable screws 8 as clearlyshown in Fig. 2.

By providing a parachute with interchangeable sleeves for carrying theribs and having greater or less number of the rib-receiving )tlWS 0rlugs, the number of ribs em- 'ployed in the parachute may be altered'bytaking out one sleeve and substituting another. The spreaders 4 are alsoadjustably connected with the ribs 3 by means of clips or fastenings 9which are usually U shaped pieces adapted to surround the ribs 3, theirfree ends being drawn together so as to pinch the ribs 3 by the pivotscrews lOiwhich also secure the upper ends of the spreaders 4 tothe saidribs. By loosening the screws .10 thev clips 9 may be slipped to anotherpoint upon a rib and clamped thereto again.

The extent to which the ribs may be spread or bowed can thusbe adjustedquickly and rigidly by the setting of clips 9 at desired points on theribs.

The spreaders 4 are pivotally connected at their lower ends to a slidingcollar 11 which fits upon the tubular spindle 1 and has a slidingengagement therewith. The said collar 11 is provided with the samenumber of spreader receiving recesses and pivot pins,

as there are rib receiving recesses upon the sleeve 5 so that the samenumber of spreaders may always be employed as there are ribs usedin theparachute.

The collar 11 is connected with thedraw bar 2 within the hollow spindle.1 by means of cords 12 which are connected to the said collar 11 at oneend and which thence pass over pulleys 13 journaled in the upper portionof the sleeve 14:. The said sleeve 14 is clamped upon the hollow spindle1 usually by means of a set screw 15,.at such a position that thepulleys will come op osite openings or slots 16 formed in the wa ls ofthe said spindle 1. In passin over the pul-' leys 13, the cords extendownwardly. through the s indle 1 and are connected to the upperen ofthe plunger-2, usually by means of a ring 17 or other desired means. Thelower end of the draw bar. 2 is formed with a large eye or handle 18 towhich the 7 and yet do not prevent the folding of the parachute when notin' use. A person, or other weight or load provided with any suitableattaching belt or mechanism as 20 is connectedwith the eye 18 inanydesirable manner when a descent is to be made.

To insure the quick opening of the parachute a coiled spring as 21 isarranged about the hollow spindle .1 and at its lower end braces againsta collar 22 clamped upon the lower end of the said spindle while itsupper end exerts a spring pressure against the under side of the slidingcollar 11. The spring thus assists in the spreading-of the chute byforcing the said collar upwardly. When the parachute is folded, the saidsprin is compressed upon the spindle between t e collar 11 and thecollar 22, the said parachute be-' ing held in its folded position inany desired manner and usually by a band placedaround the folded lowerends of the ribs within the easy reach of the operator when it-may becut and the parachute permitted to-unfold. The ribs 3 are of coursecovered with any usual flexible fabric suitable for ribs for mamtainingthe parachute in a spread condition when in use.

3. A parachute comprisinga spindle, a rib carrvin head removably securedthere to and aving rib sockets formed therein, parachute ribs removablypivoted in said sockets, a sleeve having a sliding engagement with saidspindle, spreaders adjustably connected with said ribs, and having 2.'ivoted connection with the sleeve which shdes upon said spindle, andmeans for disposing the weight of the load carried by the paraaaaoseers, and. means for placin the pull of. the load partially upon said colar' for spreading the parachute, and partially uponthe ribs tending topull the outer edge ,of the said parachute downwardly.

5; A parachute mechanism comprising a hollow spindle, a weight carryinplunger moving therein, a folding parac ute sup-.

porting mechanism mounted upon the spindle, a'movable collar for openingor folding the same, cords connecting said collar with the plunger, thesaid cords extending over anti-friction means mounted upon the walls ofthe spindle.

6. A parachute mechanism comprising a folding air engaging portionhaving ribs and spread bars, a movable collar carrying said spreadingbars, a hollow'spindle guiding sald collar, a sleeve adjustably mountedupon said spindle and having pulleys arranged opposite' apertures in thewalls of the spindle, a weight carrying plunger moving in said spindleand cords connecting the plunger with the said collar, the said cordspassing over the said pulleys and through the apertures in the walls ofthe spindle.

7. A parachute mechanism comprising the air engaging folding meanshaving ribs carrying the same, ahollow spindle supporting said foldingmeans and the said ribs, a movable plunger mounted in the said spindle,bracing'cords connecting the outer ends'of the ribs with the saidplunger, and spring means mounted on the spindle and normally tending toopen the said air enga ing means.

In witness that I claim the f oregoing I have hereunto subscribed myname this 15th 7 day of December, 1910.

- JOHN BURNS. Witnesses:

EDMUND A. STRAUSE, EARLE R. POLLARD.

